Rail-joint.



-T. M. DANIELS.

RAIL JOINT. APPLlCATlON FILED JAN 19. 1915-.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.

Ill-ml J if Z THOMAS M. DANIELS, OF LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rain-roman intense.

Application filed January 19, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Thomas M. DANmLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Latrobe, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of Whichthe following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to rail joints and more especially to a new and improved form of fish plate designed for use in connection with rails whereby the said rails can be securely braced and can be held together without the necessity of using bolts and like fastening devices.

A further object is to provide a fish plate which is -adapted to be secured in position by spikes of the usual form.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawingsz -Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail joint having the present improvements combined. therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fish plates, the rail being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a section on line A-B Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the transversely inclined base of the fish plate designed to rest upon one of the base flanges of a rail and this base has win-gs 2- extending latertherefrom, the bottom faces of the wings being adapted to rest fiat upon the ties. These wings can be of any shape desired and each of them is formed With an enlargement 3 upon its upper face which enlargement extends to an 11 standing flange e which is disposed longitudinally along the inner or active side of the base 1. This flange is adapted ts fit snugly against the webs of the rails and the enlargements 3 are integral with the flange. .l't will be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Jan. 2, 1917'.

Serial No. 3,137.

braced and, as the head of the rail is supported, there is no danger of the rail sagging at its ends and causing the wheels to pound while passing over the joint.

.Spike receiving openings 5 are formed in the base 1 close to each side of each enlargement 3 and another spike receiving opening 6 is formed in each Wing 2 adjacent the outer end of the enlargement thereon.

. In using the fish plates they are placed at opposite sides of the meeting end p'ortions of the rails R and after being pressed tightly against the rails, they are secured by driving spikes, not shown, through the openings 5 and 6. Thus the fish plates are held against displacement and the rails are both clamped tightly between the fish plates and supported so that displacement of the rails relative to each other is prevented without the use of bolts such as heretofore required.

Each fish plate can be rolled, stamped or cast as desired and, as the braces formed by the enlargements 3 are integral with the fish plates, it is not necessaryto use any special fastening means for holding the said braces in place.

What is claimed is The combination with alining rails, of opposed base plates for engagement with the ties supporting the rails, said base plates having their inner portions inclined and bearing upon the base flanges of the rails, an upstanding longitudinal flange along the inner edge of each base plate and engaging one side of the rail webs, these flanges extending under and engaging the hea s of the rails, wings extending laterally from the base plates, braces upon each of the base plates integral with the wings and base plates and substantially equal in width to the wings, said braces be ing integral with the upstanding flanges and having their upper faces disposed in a plane below the upper edges of the flanges there being spike receiving openings cl'ose asmy own, I have hereto aifixed my signedto dthe'sidesholcr) the briitces and atathef outefi vtm'e in the presence of two witnesses. I I en 0 eac race t e outer en 0 eac brace being adiptezi for engagement by the v '-THOMAS DANIELS 5 head of a spike within the adjacentopen- Witnesses:

ing:n A; H. BELL,

' testimony that I claim the foregoing GEO. BARRON.

Gopiee'otthie potent my be obtained for five cents eachyby addressing the commissioner of 2mm,

- Washington, D. 0.! 

